Report on Archon Day 2018
Archon Day was held at Denison University again this year, convened and hosted by archivist Sasha Griffin, on June 29, 2018. The group comprised 10 participants from institutions in Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, and Ohio (see list of attendees at end). Meeting participants thanked Sasha Griffin for her service as leader for the last several years. She announced that she must step down from her time-consuming role. We agreed to work in teams to share future work.
Meeting Purpose
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future viability of Archon, the availability of alternative finding aid database software; their utility for Archon users in particular; and the Archon Users Collaborative future work in three to five years.
Review of the Update and Archon Users Survey
The group reviewed the results of a survey of Archon users and discussed the probable existence of other Archon users, particularly in foreign countries. We discussed our own satisfaction with the updated Archon in PHP 5.6, which has been adopted by the original developers of the product. We also shared our misgivings about other systems currently available for our particular needs.
Timeline of Archon Viability
As PHP develops, the need for an update to Archon becomes necessary, as was the case with the update financed by the Archon Users Collaborative in 2016-17. PHP 5.6 will cease to be supported in 2019. There was discussion about upgrading to PHP 7, which Calvin College has begun to do, and the group will contact David Malone about their work. However, PHP itself is on the way out. Ruby is the current standard, but that may change in three years.
User Support
Current users of the updated Archon software can go to their hosting services for technical support. The Archon Users Collaborative website is a resource with local manuals, and the group shares information. The official 2.21 Archon manual can be accessed on the archon.org website hosted by the University of Illinois.
Where We Go from Here
Direction 1: Keep Archon relevant for 2-3 years and then consider other software.
Direction 2: Form a governance system to continue support for more than 3+ years.
Direction 3: Create a broader network for what is now in place for Archon and also support a successor, if possible.
Action Items
Formed the following teams: Research (Scott Schwartz, leader), Code Development (Nat Wilson, leader), and Communication/User Community (Anne Salsich, leader). Each team has specific objectives and welcomes new team members.
Explore updating Archon code to work with PHP 7.2: Get a contracted developer/group to evaluate Calvin College’s PHP 7 version of Archon and get community testing.
Hold Archon Day virtually and work on communication to get others outside of the Midwest actively involved. More visibility through archives and library communication vehicles and conferences. Recruit for the teams begun at Archon Day. Members to present at the Collections Management Tools Section at the Society of American Archivists annual meeting.
Create a comprehensive directory of Archon users to include international institutions for posting on our website. Find partners and look for funding for future development.
List of Attendees
Charles Busby, Zaner-Bloser, Columbus, OH
Colleen Goodheart, Denison University
Matt Gorzalski, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Sasha Griffin, Denison University
Cliff Hight, Kansas State University
Anne Salsich, Oberlin College
Scott Schwartz, University of Illinois-Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Urbana, IL
Joan Sweeney, Clerics of St. Viator, Arlington Heights, IL
Nat Wilson, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Meeting Purpose
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future viability of Archon, the availability of alternative finding aid database software; their utility for Archon users in particular; and the Archon Users Collaborative future work in three to five years.
Review of the Update and Archon Users Survey
The group reviewed the results of a survey of Archon users and discussed the probable existence of other Archon users, particularly in foreign countries. We discussed our own satisfaction with the updated Archon in PHP 5.6, which has been adopted by the original developers of the product. We also shared our misgivings about other systems currently available for our particular needs.
Timeline of Archon Viability
As PHP develops, the need for an update to Archon becomes necessary, as was the case with the update financed by the Archon Users Collaborative in 2016-17. PHP 5.6 will cease to be supported in 2019. There was discussion about upgrading to PHP 7, which Calvin College has begun to do, and the group will contact David Malone about their work. However, PHP itself is on the way out. Ruby is the current standard, but that may change in three years.
User Support
Current users of the updated Archon software can go to their hosting services for technical support. The Archon Users Collaborative website is a resource with local manuals, and the group shares information. The official 2.21 Archon manual can be accessed on the archon.org website hosted by the University of Illinois.
Where We Go from Here
Direction 1: Keep Archon relevant for 2-3 years and then consider other software.
Direction 2: Form a governance system to continue support for more than 3+ years.
Direction 3: Create a broader network for what is now in place for Archon and also support a successor, if possible.
Action Items
Formed the following teams: Research (Scott Schwartz, leader), Code Development (Nat Wilson, leader), and Communication/User Community (Anne Salsich, leader). Each team has specific objectives and welcomes new team members.
Explore updating Archon code to work with PHP 7.2: Get a contracted developer/group to evaluate Calvin College’s PHP 7 version of Archon and get community testing.
Hold Archon Day virtually and work on communication to get others outside of the Midwest actively involved. More visibility through archives and library communication vehicles and conferences. Recruit for the teams begun at Archon Day. Members to present at the Collections Management Tools Section at the Society of American Archivists annual meeting.
Create a comprehensive directory of Archon users to include international institutions for posting on our website. Find partners and look for funding for future development.
List of Attendees
Charles Busby, Zaner-Bloser, Columbus, OH
Colleen Goodheart, Denison University
Matt Gorzalski, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Sasha Griffin, Denison University
Cliff Hight, Kansas State University
Anne Salsich, Oberlin College
Scott Schwartz, University of Illinois-Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Urbana, IL
Joan Sweeney, Clerics of St. Viator, Arlington Heights, IL
Nat Wilson, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
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